just me. . . . . .

My morning. . . . . . started here. . . . . . . . color & cut

then after dinner. . . . . was here. . . . .

 

next will be. . . . . 

and then some dancing in the kitchen. . . . 

What a wonderful way to end the day! Gotta love him!!

prayers. . . . .

Just asking for some prayers. We have some good friends, Lonnie & Tracy, who live outside of Great Bend. A couple days after Charlene passed away, Tracy's Mom died. We now have received news that Tracy's Dad died on Thursday. Roger met Lonnie his first year in college at Barton County Community College. I remember meeting Lonnie when Roger and I first started dating. His driving SCARED me to death! He has turned out to be Roger's best friend all these years. We always know that if we or the girls need them, they will be here right away! They are just the best!

Please keep them in your prayers during this difficult time. 

Fun times in Chicago. . . . .

 Michele had so much fun in Chicago!! Happy she went, but glad to be home.

 

 This was the inside of their hotel

 Make sure you pick the right elevator!

 

 "jumping" into Lake Michigan

 The view of Chicago from the top of Sears Tower

 Michele had troubles with her directions. . . . .  :-)

 The Bean . . . . . . at night

 The Bean . . . . in the day

 

the underneath of The Bean

  

 Michele's hand is on the right

Piano Bar that they went to the last night in Chicago. Michele said it was soooo cool!

Now onto planning the next trip!! Michele, Jessica & I are going on a "Mom & Daughters Trip" this summer. We'll let you know more as the time gets nearer!!!! 

funny story. . . . .

Before my funny story, I will tell you that Michele is still on her way home. They made it back to the Kansas border about 5:30 pm. Stopped in Topeka and had supper with Jessica. And should be home in Hays sometime around maybe 10:30 pm,  if I have it figured right. I'm sure she will zonk in her own bed tonight!!!

Anyways. . . . . . back to my funny.  This morning I woke up at 4:45 am to Roger patting me on the back. This was the conversation ~

Roger ~ "Why were you up so late last night?"

Me ~ "I couldn't sleep."

Roger ~ "What time did you come to bed?"

Me ~ "About 11:30."

Roger ~ "Can't you sleep now?"

Me ~ "Huh?"

Roger ~ "Your awake. Can't you sleep?"

Me ~ "Ummmm. . . . . . .  I'm awake because you just woke me up. Why are YOU awake?"

Roger ~ "I'm thinking of going to work."

Me ~ "Ooookkkkaaay???"

Silly guy! He then got up and went to work.

latest from chicago. . . .

The Bean ~

The above picture is what Mishi just sent me. It is a reflection of herself taking the picture. The next pictures are ones that I got off the internet to just give you and idea of what "The Bean" really is. Michele has lots of pictures that we will be sharing after she gets home. She is having a blast, but is tired and ready to get back home.

 

Niketown. . . . 5 floors of shoes. And YES Mishi DID get herself a pair! :-)

breathe. . . . .

Michele called this morning. We only talked for just a few minutes, but she said they are having an absolute blast! They had many places to visit today. And one of them being the Sears Tower. Here is the picture she promised me! How cool!  1,353 feet high.  The 103rd floor.

hurry. . . . .

What is it with Ummel's trying to fly?? Or at least the Ummel's in my family. Michele is in Chicago, but they did have troubles getting there! :-) When they went to check in, they were told their flight was CANCELLED. Go figure!! Something was wrong with the airplane they were to get on coming from Chicago. So, it never even made it to Kansas City. Since the group was large, they couldn't get them on another flight. The next option was driving about 3 hours to Springfield Missouri and catch a flight from there. After rushing. . . . they had just enough time to grab dinner before they boarded the plane. I haven't got to talk to Michele, but do know that the plane they flew on was "small". She did text me a picture from the basketball game they were at. Chicago Bulls vs. Spurs. Lots of people!! I'm betting she is having. . . . . .

FUN!

fly girl fly!

Wow! Can you believe that the temperature got to 79 degrees here today? February in Kansas and it made it to 79 degrees. Just beautiful! And tomorrow is suppose to be 70 degrees. Better enjoy it!!!!

Today was a busy day for all. Roger had a safety meeting today and will have a beautiful day off tomorrow. I think he is starting my honey do's by working on getting the new washer/dryer in the house. I took the day off and kept busy going to doctor appointments. Back doctor, rheumatologist (who did tell me that one of my meds DOES cause weight gain. This will be a tough one to beat!), lab work (which they blew out a vein in the top of my hand. This is starting to get old!), mammogram and dexa scan. The things we do for our bodies! :-) And Michele started her day with a doctor appointment (anti-biotics), classes, work . . . . . and now she is in Topeka. Tomorrow morning she is on the plane to Chicago. Wish I could hide in her suitcase!!!

just beautiful. . . . . .

Clean. . . . . . .

Sooooooo. . . . . . . Yesterday afternoon my dryer started stinking REAL bad. I got it shut off. But when we tried to start it back up, it would not work. The cord was black on the end. Roger took a quick look and told me that he thought the dryer had fried. Then shortly thereafter asked me if I wanted to go to Hays and we could get a new dryer. Ok. Sure. Why not. We could not find a new dryer that would match my washer. My thought was maybe checking prices on the front loaders with the pedestal's. Then giving the girls the washer and find them a dryer to go with it. The set that Jessica is using is borrowed. So, we ended up buying a new set.

 

Today Mom and Dad came up and helped Roger with the electrical box that ran the dryer. We had thought that maybe there was also a problem with it. WELL. . . . . seems to be the problem WAS the electrical box. They replaced that. Roger put the new plug in cord on the dryer. . . .and guess what? The dryer works. Go figure! I'm thinking that Jessica and Michele have the best parents! 

PS. . . . Jessica just called. Her furnace is acting up once AGAIN! Go figure! Seems to be the story of her life right now.

lots to say. . . . . . .

~ First of all I wanted to talk about the snow. Tuesday. A day of cold, blowing snow. I took the picture of our cars about half ways thru the day. So there was much more snow by the end of the day. Roger thought we ended up with about 8-9-10 inches. Was actually very beautiful inside our trees, but outside of that the wind was just crazy with blizzard conditions. To say the least we got to hunker down at home for the day. And hunker down, Jorge did! If I have said that a dozen times, I will end up saying that a dozen more. Last night I went out to start the grill. . . . . and this is what I found. Do you think Roger loves this little dog?

~ Monday we went to Dr. Locke's funeral. What an uplifting and spiritual service. Michele and I decided that when we grow up, we want to be just like Marlin. If the rest of the world was like him, it would be such a beautiful place to be. Please keep his family in your prayers as they start the next part of their lives without their loved one.

~ Wednesday. Wednesday was the day that when I left from work. . . . my 8 month old new car would not start. YI YI YI! Luckily Roger had not been able to work because of the snow, so he was at home when I called. And was able to come and get it started. BUT then his jumper cables decided to die. So now I want to put a bug in every one's ears and say that Smitty's in Quinter is WONDERFUL! Smitty was kind enough to allow Roger to borrow his jumper cables to get the car started. Then WONDERFUL to put our car in his shop for the night. Then WONDERFUL to let us borrow a new battery from him so I can drive to the dealership to exchange my bad battery for a new one. Smitty is just WONDERFUL! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

~ Thursday. After coming home from work, picking up Roger, and going back to Quinter to pick the car up. We got home obviously later than usual. After starting supper, I went to start my dryer. . . . . which would not work. This seems to be my lucky week! We have had troubles with it on and off blowing a fuse. Guess now is the time to call the electrician and get that new box put in. YI YI YI!

~ Friday. Finally Friday!  First thing in the morning Jessica calls. .  . . oh no! NOT again! Her furnace popped BIG time again! To make a long story short, they got a second opinion and this is NOT suppose to happen. DUH! Looks like the gas valve was turned to high. If it does it again, looks like the landlord is going to have to replace the furnace. What a week for Jessica! The good news is the heating guy was their regular guy that they couldn't get a hold of the first time this happened. Jessica really feels comfortable with him. When he left he gave her his cell number and said if she had ANY concerns with the furnace, to call him FIRST. Hopefully she sleeps better knowing that.

~ Saturday. After waking up on Tuesday with a nasty sore throat and cold, Michele said a good nights sleep helped a lot. And is feeling better. If she isn't much better on Monday I'm sending her to the doctor. Her and some others from Alpha Kappa Psi are leaving Wednesday for Kansas City, to fly out Thursday morning to Chicago.  We want her feeling well so she can enjoy her trip and have lots of F.U.N! I've ordered her to take lots of pictures and can't wait to post some when she gets back. I want a picture of her feet on the observation deck of Sears Tower. How cool!!! (Think I can fit in her suitcase?)

I started feeling poor on Thursday evening. Sore throat, head hurts and just feel plain yucky. With the bugs that have been floating around this winter, I feel pretty good considering this is the first I've been sick. Mom and Dad got the buggies almost a month ago! And just when they think they are over it. . . . not so much. 

~ The sun is shining! The world is bright! The temperatures are rising! ENJOY the beautiful day and days to come!!! 

Snow Day!!!!!!!!!

:-)

Tomorrow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IS better!

tomorrow will be better.....

Sorry Jessica! But gotta do this!  :-)

I just got off the phone with Jessica. And this is what she kept saying. Good thing she can laugh! Right now her house is 46 degrees. (Or at least that is what her landlord told her) She is at her front door. Suppose to meet the heating guy at 10am. BUT. . . . . . . she has lost her house keys and can't get in the house. From Jessica's mouth. . . . . . CRAP! Guess I gotta call Katie! (the landlord)

. . . . . . . . . tomorrow will be better!

yesterday. . . .

Yesterday started out not the best day. Middled not the best. And ended NOT the best. 

The day started with February 3rd~ That says it all to begin with.

The middle stunk! Sad to say, but we lost our Doctor yesterday to a two year battle with cancer. And what a special man he was. Please keep his family in your prayers.

And the end of the day didn't go out any better than it came in! Jessica called at 11:30pm. Her furnace blew up. Yes. . . . you read that right. Big flash. Loud boom. Smoke. Black everywhere. Stunk of smoke. Her landlord wouldn't answer her phone. After several messages Jessica and Christina went and knocked on the landlords door. Nobody would come to the door. Then she calls Jessica. "Jessica are you at my door? We thought that someone was trying to break in." Oh come on! Sure! I ring the doorbell right before I try to break into your house. Get a life! . . . . . So, obviously nobody is coming to look at the furnace during the middle of the night. Christina goes to her boyfriends and Jessica goes to Gabe's. 

Jessica is now driving to Gabe's house. 1 am in the morning. Going 30 mph in a 40 mph zone. Got her seat belt on. Marley is in her crate in the back seat. Jessica turns left off of Gage Blvd and turns into the outside lane. And what happens? She gets stopped. Gets a warning ticket for an illegal turn. You turn into the inside lane. Duh!

At 4:30pm today her landlord calls her at work and says she now has heat. They got it fixed. Jessica goes home after work . . . . turns the furnace up because it is cold. And what happens AGAIN? Sure enough! This time the whole house shook and the windows rattled. Pretty sure the problem is bigger than the furnace. She calls the landlord. . . . .and nobody answers. We have now decided that she is NOT staying there in the cold. The last she looked at the temp it was 60 degrees.

Right now it is 11pm. Jessica and Marley are spending the night in a really nice hotel with a beautiful view of the Capital building in downtown Topeka. And on the funds of her landlord. (Who STILL has not called her back since this happened at 6:20pm)

Our advice to Jessica. . . . . Go to BED! And get up on the OTHER side!

god and me. . . . . .

we had a little chat. . . . . . . .

Wednesday I had a doctors appointment in Hays.  And the first thing they do is weigh you. It was not good. NOT good at all! I prefer to not share those numbers. :-) But I can say. . . . . it is the most that I have ever weighed. So ok! I was a little bummed. Obviously not bummed enough as I went to Wal-Mart to buy groceries. And what did I buy? Donuts. . . . for Roger. (Sure, they were for him!) Unloaded the cart with my groceries. . . and hey, maybe I can eat one of the donuts on the way home. I'm starving!!!! So, here I am. Driving down interstate. Trying to break into that donut box. Get one out and take that first yummy bite. AND WHAT???? I grabbed the WRONG donuts. The ones with the pudding in the middle of them. The ones that I absolutely can't stand their texture in my mouth. I can't believe it!! I almost threw the whole box out the window!

Yes God. . . . . I know!

 Fast forward to today. I had a follow up with my primary physician. Again. . . what do they do, but weigh me. Gosh darn it! And guess what? I STILL weigh more than I have ever weighed. When he asks me if I have any questions. . . . silly me. . . . I ask. . . . . "Just by chance, can my weight gain be from my meds?" And the answer was. . . . "Ummmmm, I'm sorry Corina. But we really can't blame it on them."   HMMMM! 

Can't say I didn't try!

Yes God. . . . . I know!

So. . . . . why am I telling you this? If I told you I weigh less than I have in many years, you would look at me, laugh and say sure. Ya. Right. I know I have gained the weight. And looking at me, we all know that I have gained the weight. So, this is now me having a chat with God. . . . . . .

Yes God, I know I have gained weight.

Yes God, I'm going to do something about it.

AND Yes God, I'm telling EVERYONE!

if I fail, then Yes God, EVERYONE will know.

Yes God. I know!

Birthday......

 

Happy Birthday my sweet  little sister. May all your birthday's be great in heaven. Run. Jump. Play. Eat. ENJOY like you've never been able to.